Pedestrian Injury Lawyer Maricopa County AZ
Arizona Open Roads Tempt Excessive Speeding
COVID-19 has had major impacts on traffic in Arizona, and across the country. Stay-at-home orders and widespread working from home have resulted in less traffic, fewer accidents, faster commutes, and decreased emissions. The open roads and vacant highways, however, have become a temptation for speeding, reckless driving and street racing. A pedestrian injury lawyer Maricopa County AZ can advise a collision victim regarding potential claims for injuries and damages.
Just recently, the Department of Public Safety troopers broke up an attempted street race. On April 8 around 10 p.m. near Interstate 17 and McDowell, troopers noticed several vehicles set up for a suspected street race before intervening. Earlier that evening, the same vehicles were chased away by the Phoenix Police Department’s helicopter after the group of cars was spotted staging near Interstate 17 and McDowell.
Street racing activity has been a growing concern for state lawmakers, even before the pandemic. On February 18, 2020 on State Route 51 near Shea Boulevard, an 18-year-old from Buckeye died after racing another car when his Audi veered off the right side of the freeway, slammed into a concrete retaining wall and then rolled back onto the roadway. The crash prompted consideration of a bill in the Arizona State Senate that includes harsher penalties against street racers, like a 30-day vehicle impound, an additional $1,000 fine, and allowing officers the ability to arrest people who aid the need for speed.
Police in the metropolitan Phoenix area are also having to deal with what are called “street takeovers.” The dangerous trend tries to stop officers from pulling over street racers. Street takeovers have been recorded on social media and often show crowds of people and cars blocking off intersections to allow others to engage in illegal activities such as speeding, doing doughnuts, burning out tires and drag racing. Others have been seen hanging out of cars not wearing a seat belt and blasting off fireworks. A pedestrian injury lawyer Maricopa County AZ can investigate fault, consult with an accident reconstructionist, and look into possible available insurance policies, and limits, including liability, uninsured and underinsured coverages.
Phoenix Police, the Tolleson Police Department, and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office have teamed up in the past to stop the car meetups. Soon they the agencies will be getting some reinforcements. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has awarded $100,000 to the Phoenix Police Department to create a new street-racing task force. The money will go to fund overtime for about 20 Phoenix police officers who would concentrate their efforts on enforcement in areas believed to be targeted by street racers. It will also be used to pay for billboards and other public service announcements to educate the community about the consequences of street racing and reckless driving.
If you or a loved one is involved in a street racing incident or an accident contact a pedestrian injury lawyer Maricopa County AZ to better understand your rights and possible claims, the settlement, and litigation process. Three should be no charge for the consultation. There should be no fees unless a settlement is obtained. Call Paul Englander, PLC today.
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